A husband and wife who launched a vicious attack on a woman after an engagement party have been each been jailed for three years.

Dorothy Matthews, 60, suffered fractures to her breastbone, vertebrae and neck in the assault by Maria and Greg Toole.

Mother of six Maria Toole, 33, pulled the victim out of a taxi and repeatedly struck her.

She was then kicked and stamped on by self-employed builder Greg Toole.

A judge told the couple, whose youngest child is just 15 weeks: “This was a most unpleasant attack on a woman older than you. Dorothy Matthews sustained serious injuries.”

The trouble started after Miss Matthews and her group took sandwiches to eat on their way home in a taxi.

There was no objection to them taking the food but they were told not to take the plastic trays, a jury was told.

Miss Matthews was sitting in a cab waiting to go home when Maria Toole pulled her out.

The victim graphically told in evidence of hearing her bones cracking as she lay on the ground curled up in a ball as she was attacked.

“I was in agony,” she said. “I thought I would die on that spot. I couldn’t see how it would ever end.”

The couple, of Saltings Road, Snodland, denied inflicting grievous bodily harm, but were convicted on what the judge called “compelling evidence”.

“It is a sad case, as most are, with aspects of a soap opera about it, because the offence occurred after an engagement party where everything had gone well throughout the evening,” said Iestyn Morgan, prosecuting.

Miss Matthews worked at Express Cabs in Maidstone with her daughter-in-law Chelsea Farinaro.

They, Miss Matthews’ daughter Somma Mockford and others went to the engagement party of Lois Love, who also works at the cab firm, and Phil Underdown at Snodland Working Men’s Club on February 18 last year.

Mr Morgan said at about 11.30pm, when preparing to leave, Chelsea collected some food from the buffet to eat on the way home.

Mr Underdown’s mother Theresa Booth stopped her, saying she should not take the trays. They were then handed over.

“That, you might think, would ordinarily be the end of the matter,” said Mr Morgan.

But a cigarette was thrown in Miss Matthews’ direction. Maria Toole became abusive before pulling Miss Matthews out of the taxi onto the ground.

“She then hit Dorothy Matthews repeatedly and she heard Greg Toole say words along the lines of ‘Start on my wife’ and he kicked her to the upper body several times,” said Mr Morgan.

“As he did that she felt pain throughout her chest and neck and heard a cracking sound. She heard another crack and saw Greg Toole was stamping on her.”

Miss Matthews’ three grandchildren were distressed as they sat in the taxi.

She managed to get in and it drove away. She was taken to hospital and detained for two weeks.

Greg Toole, 33, claimed he acted in self-defence. Maria Tool denied any involvement in the assault.

The victim told in a statement how her life had changed radically since the attack.

The court heard Greg Toole had previous convictions for assault and possessing cocaine several years ago. His wife was of previous good character.

Caroline Harris, for Maria Toole, said prison meant there would be a huge impact on the couple’s children, three of whom were under school age.

An aunt was moving into the family home to look after them and a grandmother would help out.

“It will be huge punishment to be separated from them,” said Miss Harris. “The sooner they are reunited the better.”

Judge Adele Williams said she did not have the power to order Maria Toole be sent to a mother and baby unit, but added if it were possible it would be “advantageous”.

The argument about sandwich trays, she said, was “senseless”. Maria Toole was drunk and angry.

“This was a joint attack and each of you is equally culpable and responsible,” said the judge. “A victim personal statement makes clear the pain, suffering and distress she has suffered.

“She has not surprisingly found this a deeply traumatic experience and has ongoing problems. It affects her psychologically and she fears for the future.

“You, Maria Toole, were on this occasion completely out of control. You started the violence. CCTV shows how you ran after witnesses and at the end of the incident had to be pulled away and prevented from returning to continue the attack.

“This falls into the most serious category because it was a sustained attack, shod feet were used and two of you were involved.”

Judge Williams added: “I don’t underestimate the effect on your children of separation from their parents.”